‘We are their natural home’ claims Sefton Lib Dem leader as former Green councillor joins ranks

Waterloo councillor Kieran Dams has joined the Liberal Democrats, a month after resigning from the Green Party, but says he is not planning to stand for re-election in the ward next year.

Cllr Dams resigned from the Greens in October, following a controversial vote at the party’s annual conference in Brighton, where members passed a motion defining Zionism as a form of racism.

He opposed the motion, stating concerns about the rejection of an amendment intended to protect Jewish members from being penalised over their association with synagogues and other Jewish community institutions.

At the time, he said he feared the party was heading to ‘a very dark place’, and that he could not follow it there. He subsequently wrote an article for The Independent criticising the direction of the party under leader Zack Polanski, whom he had previously supported.

The Green Party has maintained that nobody should be excluded because of their faith, background or the organisations to which they belong.

Speaking to the Monitor today, Cllr Dams said he had not been planning to join another party when he resigned.

‘When I left the Greens there wasn’t any plan in place. I just left out of principle,’ he said, explaining that he had felt passionately about the issue and was not prepared to wait until another political party offered him a home.

He said he had been open to joining another party if the opportunity felt right, but did not want to rush such a significant decision: ‘I thought I’d just talk to different parties and see what their values were and where they align with me.’

Cllr Dams confirmed to the Monitor he had also held conversations with Labour, but decided the party was not the right fit. He then approached local Liberal Democrat leader, councillor John Pugh.

‘Nothing was set in stone, it was a normal conversation,’ he said, adding that Cllr Pugh had offered him considerable support.

‘Politics should be about your local area, especially local politics,’ he said, explaining that he and Cllr Pugh had found they shared a similar outlook.

After researching the Liberal Democrats’ policies and values, he said it had become clear that the party was a ‘good fit‘ for him.

In a statement released by Sefton Liberal Democrats earlier today, he said: ‘What attracted me to the Liberal Democrats is the party’s driving principle that everybody is equal and should be able to succeed no matter their background.

‘The party’s heritage is grounded in community politics and locally it is clear to see that the Lib Dems work hard in Southport and understand residents needs.

‘By joining the Lib Dem group, I can better represent the residents of Waterloo by being part of a wider team working together to hold the Labour administration to account.’

Asked about his relationship with former Green colleagues, Cllr Dams said the events surrounding his departure had been difficult. ‘It’s probably been probably quite traumatic for everyone, if I’m honest,’ he said. ‘I have reached out to Green colleagues but not received a response.’ He said there were no hard feelings from him towards his former colleagues, describing Sefton Green leader Cllr Neil Doolin, as ‘a good guy’.

Cllr Dams said he had heard from around a dozen people in Waterloo who had voted Green but were unhappy about the conference motion, as well as others from across Sefton.

Despite his opposition to the motion, he stressed that he continued to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza. ‘I think what Israel is doing is horrific,’ he said, adding that he regularly spoke out about the situation.

Asked what he would say to Waterloo residents who had voted for a Green councillor, he acknowledged that some people vote for a party while others vote for an individual.

He confirmed that he would not be standing again in Waterloo in 2027, explaining that he currently lives in the ward but is moving to Southport for family reasons.

He said he would be willing to stand for election again in the future, but wanted to build a relationship with the community before doing so. ‘Politicians come in and say “I’ll represent you” without even knowing the area. I wouldn’t do that,’ Cllr Dams added.

For now, he intends to make the most of his remaining months as a councillor, continuing to pursue local issues. He acknowledged that his change of party would not necessarily make a substantial difference to residents’ everyday lives, although it would allow him to work with a larger group of councillors.

‘I’m going to get out and make the most of what time I have left as a councillor,’ he said.

Cllr John Pugh, leader of the Southport Liberal Democrats, welcomed the move, which brings the party’s representation on Sefton Council to 18 councillors.

‘At a time when politics is becoming more tribal polarised and personality driven, our party’s principles to build a free and fair society that balances liberty, equality and community will appeal to many politicians in the centre and on the left that have become disaffected or disenchanted with other parties. We are their natural home,’ he said.

‘Being a local councillor should be about listening to residents and concentrating on issues that impact people’s everyday lives. Kieran shares those values and brings valuable experience and a real commitment to public service.

‘We are very pleased that 17 Lib Dems have now become 18 on Sefton Council and we look forward to working with him.’

The Monitor has approached Sefton Green leader Cllr Neil Doolin for comment, who said Sefton Greens had no comment to make.